If Arsenal slip back into their early season rhythm of inconsistency and miserable form, they’ll have let slip through their fingertips another chance (and perhaps their last chance) to catch up with a Chelsea team that initially looked so impressive against Manchester United before the Red Devils’ stunning comeback. Fans of Betfair football betting will be keeping a close eye on things.

With this in mind, the next few months could prove to be the most important months since Arsene Wenger arrived at the club as a nervous, under pressure manager new to the English game, and could also make the difference between the Gunners pushing forward again as a top team or falling back into the pack of the Premier League’s Average Joes, with a long fight ahead of them to be perceived as candidates for the title in the future. The Premier League betting shows things could be tough for them.

Ultimately, though, Arsenal fans know that their side is slowly but surely returning to full strength and are unlikely to be as weak again as they were over the Christmas period. If they can continue proving that they’re in possession of that element of confidence that proved decisive in the 7-1 win over Blackburn, they’ll be able to challenge for fourth without any difficulties. If, however, more injury problems strike them, this could turn into a very, very long season indeed for Arsenal fans, players and the manager himself.

The two clubs will now battle it out to try and ensure their European campaigns don’t end at this relatively early stage – in a match-up that has to be viewed as being the round’s biggest tie. Those looking at the Europa League betting will be expecting a close match.

City manager Roberto Mancini has already admitted the draw had produced a clash that looked more suited to the Champions League. The Italian made it clear Porto were one of the Europa League’s strongest sides and one which would need properly preparing for. Many will see City as being favourites to progress to the next stage, however, Mancini knows his team could have been given a number of easier ties from the draw. Anyone following the Betfair online betting tips should remember this.

“Manchester City against Porto feels like a Champions League game, it is probably the toughest game we could have had,” he said.

“I have come up against them as a player before and also a manager, they are a very good team and a very strong club in Europe.”

“They are used to playing in Europe, in a great stadium. Not too many years ago they won the Champions League and also won the Europa League last year. So they are a strong team.”

Porto may not be the same force they were last season under Andres Villas-Boas – in a campaign which they dominated both domestically and in the Europa League – that said, however, they will certainly fancy their own chances of now going on to defend their title.

The Potters, now up to eighth in the table, had already beaten Liverpool and held Chelsea and Manchester United at home this season before they claimed a narrow 2-1 win over in-form Spurs on Sunday. Anyone placing Premier League bets will know what an upset that was.

Again the home fans created a hostile atmosphere in the game, which served to unsettle the visiting team, who found themselves 2-0 down at half time. Spurs rallied after the break and halved the deficit while they could bemoan some questionable refereeing decisions that went against them to deny them what had earlier seemed an unlikely point.

However, they were ultimately made to pay for a sloppy first half as Harry Redknapp’s side struggled to adapt to the tough conditions early on in the Potteries.

Woodgate is well aware just how a tough place Stoke is for other sides to go to and he believes it will stand them in good stead throughout the remainder of a gruelling season, with the Europa League again a distraction in the New Year.

“Nobody likes coming to Stoke,” he said. “The referee doesn’t like coming, the journalists don’t like coming, the police don’t like coming.

“Nobody likes coming to Stoke, apart from us.”

Woodgate, who joined the Potters after being released by Spurs following an injury-dogged few years, knows how important the victory could be as they chase a top-half finish in the Premier League. Fans of Betfair football will be wondering what sort of impact it will have on the rest of their season.

He added: “It was a great win against a top team in Tottenham. They are going for the league title but it is hard to come to Stoke and get three points.”

The Blues appeared on course for the win that would have booked their progression out of Group H after Didier Drogba gave them the advantage in Germany early in the second half.

However, they threw away the lead and an injury-time winner from Manuel Friedrich gave Leverkusen a 2-1 win.

Now Villas-Boas’ side must win or keep a clean sheet against Valencia in their final group game to qualify but, despite the pressure, the Portuguese coach insists they will get the required result and the Champions League betting shows they have every chance of doing so.

“It’s in our hands to qualify. It’s a game at home and we expect to do our job,” he said.

“That’s our responsibility and we don’t want to let the fans down. We will need Stamford Bridge completely behind us.”

The defeat is another blow to Villas-Boas, however, with reports suggesting owner Roman Abramovich is running out of patience with the man he brought in from Porto in the summer – barely four months into the job.

Chelsea have now lost four of their last seven games in all competitions and the defeat in the league last weekend to Liverpool has left them 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Fans of Betfair football will be surprised by how poorly they have done.

Add to that disappointing losses against QPR and Arsenal over the past month and the pressure is building on the manager, who knows failure to make the last 16 of the Champions League or, even worse, not making the top four this season will not be tolerated by the notoriously hard-to-please Russian owner.

The Blues host Wolves on Saturday in what is already being described as a must-win game for the Londoners before another clash against Liverpool in the Carling Cup next Tuesday.

It ultimately cost them the chance to prevent rivals Manchester United from winning a record 19th domestic crown. Those following the football betting odds will be wondering if they can do the same again.

The time around a series of disciplinary issues, as well as the John Terry race remark allegations, has led to an unsettling fortnight in which the Blues have won just one game in four in all competitions.

A disappointing home defeat by Arsenal was followed by an uninspiring goalless away draw against Genk in the Champions League, but Villas-Boas insists the players’ confidence is not dented.

“When things don’t go our way, we can’t be happy with what’s passing,” he said.

“This week that has passed, and the results we have been getting, doesn’t hurt our confidence.”

The Stamford Bridge boss added: “There’s a good spirit in the group. There’s a negative momentum we are passing by.

“We want wins as soon as possible. We went past a bad period and bad momentum last year, and we want to avoid that again.”

The Portuguese coach also revealed forgotten man Michael Essien could be back from knee surgery before the end of 2011. Those following the Premier League odds will be wondering if he can get back to his best.

The Ghana international was ruled out for six months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in July but Villas-Boas is hoping for some belated Christmas cheer.

He said: “Essien is making good progress. We’re looking at the end of December, I think.”

The win will have helped ease the pain felt by United after their humbling at the hands of their main title rivals, while Everton will be aggrieved they didn’t come out of the game with at least a point.

Moyes was full of praise for his side, and believes they can take heart from matching a talented United side just days after they pushed Chelsea all the way in the Carling Cup.

“The players deserve immense credit for the way they went about the game today,” Moyes said. “It was tough after the week we had and it shows that, we went toe to toe with Chelsea in mid-week and we played Manchester united today and we went very close as well.”

“So, I’ve got no faults at all, just disappointed we didn’t take something from the game.” He added.

Hernandez was on hand to pounce upon a Patrice Evra cross to hand United the lead after 19th minute, but Everton made a good case for a draw as Leighton Baines rattled the crossbar with a trademark free-kick while Louis Saha couldn’t replicate the form that convinced United boss Sir alex Ferguson to spend £12.8 million on the Frenchman back in 2004.

Moyes was left rueing his side’s lack of cutting edge in front of goal, but added that he was happy with his side’s efforts against the Champions.

“There was a spell just after the start of the game where we did well, then they came into it a little bit more when they got the goal, but they boys played ever so well today and I don’t think they deserved to lose the game.” He commented.

“We could have had better play up and around the edge of the box, we had opportunities, we had a couple of chances even at the end where we could have slid somebody in, it was just a little bit of anxiety and a little bit of inexperience as well.

“I think had it been the other way around the Manchester United boys would have probably made the key pass at the right moment, but we’ve not quite got that. What I do have is an abundance of spirit and great lads who are doing everything they can to win the games.”

The defeat leaves Everton thirteen point adrift of their opponents with games against Newcastle, Wolves and Bolton to come in November.

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His recent form has led to speculation that either Real Madrid or Barcelona may soon launch a bid for his services, but in Football Shirts News likely to cheer the club’s accountants, the 25-year-old insists he isn’t interested in leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon.

“City believed in me and I’m very well here.” The playmaker told the Sun.

“Real Madrid and Barcelona are definitely two great clubs, but I hope to stay in Manchester for many years.” He added.

City rounded off their perfect week with a stylish 5-2 win over Wolves in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, with a brace from Edin Dzeko, a goal apiece from Adam Johnson and Samir Nasri and a Dorus De Fries own goal helping move Roberto Mancini’s men into the quarter finals.

Mancini fielded an inexperienced side against Wolves with the likes of Silva rested, and Dutch City midfielder Nigel De Jong believes the performance without a string of first team players demonstrates the strength in depth the club possesses.

“You have to give credit to the young guys who came on the pitch at Wolves.” De Jong said.

“We’ve got a lot of young talent at the club. It is not only about buying players, it is also about mixing with the youth we saw at Wolves.

“These players can be really good. Obviously if you train amongst such a high level of players every day, you can keep improving and become better and better by the day.

“But they are still young and will progress as long as the gaffer gives them a couple of chances.”

Eriksson, who spent millions over the summer, had overseen mixed results while in charge of the East Midlands outfit, and, after failing to secure promotion last season, he was given the target of taking them up this term. You can bet Premier League football remains the side’s top priority.

However, after 13 games, Leicester are stuck in 13th place – two points adrift of the play-off places – with plenty of work to do if they are to get among the promotion candidates and the latest football odds reflect this..

In a statement on the League Managers’ Association website, Eriksson said: “I am disappointed to be leaving Leicester City Football Club.

“It was always my aim to lead the club into the Barclays Premier League and I am very sorry that I won’t be able to do that.

“I have always thought, and still believe now, that the club will be promoted this season.

“The current squad is capable and ready to achieve promotion, but football is a results industry and unfortunately we couldn’t quite get things right enough of the time.”

Former Foxes boss Martin O’Neill is the hot favourite to take over while out-of-work Mark Hughes and Billy Davies are also thought to be in the frame.

Liverpool have got their campaign back on track in the last few weeks as, following defeats to Stoke and Spurs, they have seen off Wolves and city rivals Everton in successive games to leave them fifth in the table. People who have bet Premier League money will be wondering if they can keep this run going.

However, they face one of their biggest tests of the season when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side come to town as the champions have been in scintillating form this term, dropping just two points so far and the latest football odds make them firm favourites for the title.

Dalglish is a veteran of many of these big clashes down the years and is well aware just how important the games are to the players and fans of both clubs. Indeed, Ferguson often refers to it as United’s biggest game of the season, so to hear the Liverpool boss playing it down is somewhat surprising.

“People say this is the biggest game of the season,” he said. “I don’t look at any game as being big or small. It’s another game where you get three points for winning.

“The only difference this time is the fact that if we win we’ll move a bit closer to them. It’s an opportunity to help yourself and dent their chances at the same time.”

But don’t be fooled. Dalglish’s words must be taken with a pinch of salt ahead of the match as this is surely just an attempt to take the heat of his players – some of which will be experiencing a Liverpool-United clash for the first time – because he knows just how important the showdown will be.

In public, Dalglish may say it’s just another chance for three points but, in private, there’s sure to be no one celebrating more if his side do secure a victory come Saturday afternoon.

It was the second time in three years that the Spanish giants had beaten United in the Champions League final, leaving big questions as to how they can bridge the gap to the best team in Europe. The Champions League betting certainly suggests the English side have a long way to go.

But as the Premier League champions prepare for this season’s tournament, Carrick feels the squad have put the loss behind them and are now fully focused on going one better this term.

The 30-year-old said: “The Champions League final doesn’t still hurt. It was disappointing because we lost the final but it wasn’t a massive failure.

“You have to accept they were good. It is up to us to be better.”

Carrick is likely to feature in the Group C opener against Benfica on Wednesday, with Tom Cleverley missing through injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson though will be without centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic for the clash at the Estadio da Luz and those looking at the Betfair football odds should bear this in mind.

Ferdinand is understood to have been rested, having made his comeback against Bolton at the weekend, while Vidic is still struggling through injury.

Ryan Giggs is being tipped to make his first start of the season, while Park Ji-sung could also get a place in the starting XI.