Everton hope for better fortunes at Arsenal's new patch

Arsenal will feel confident when hosting Everton at their own ground. In 14 seasons of Premier League matches at Highbury the Merseysiders only won once, 2-1 (Stuart, Kanchelskis - Wright) in 1995-96.

In the last decade, Arsenal have scored an average of three goals per match in London against Everton as they won with the following scores: 1-0, 7-0, 2-1, 2-1, 4-3, 4-1, 4-1, 1-0, 4-0, 3-1 - a total of 32 goals scored and eight conceded.

Everton will now be hoping that since Arsenal have moved from Highbury to the new Emirates Stadium they may start to aspire for more positive results.

Thierry Henry, who scored twice in Arsenal's 4-0 win at Reading last week, has voiced his support for compatriot Michel Platini, who is aspiring to oust Lennart Johansson from the top job at Uefa's forthcoming elections.

Platini remarked that if he had to fill the hot seat no country would be allowed to have four participants in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas has signed an eight-year contract with the intention to grab more silverware.

Tim Cahill recently became the first Everton player for 18 years to be nominated for the European Footballer of the Year award.

After the loss of seven points in their past three league outings, the Blues returned to winning form with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Goodison Park.

Bolton vs Man. United. The Red Devils were back on top of the standings ahead of Chelsea on goal average after they beat Liverpool 2-0 at Old Trafford last Sunday.

Alex Ferguson has set his side a 90-point target to win the Premiership title, last won by United in 2003.

Following the Liverpool match, Paul Scholes was showered with praise by Ferguson for the way he has started to dominate the side's midfield once more.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce said his goalkeeper, Jussi Jaaskelainen, is in the form of his life after he kept his side in a 1-0 lead, thwarting Blackburn from scoring twice from the penalty spot in the last five minutes of the match. Jaaskelainen is in his ninth season at Bolton.

Sheffield United vs Chelsea. Chelsea's vital win against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League has given them the impetus to keep on the right road at home and abroad.

Andriy Shevchenko was the happiest man at the Bridge in the 2-1 win over Portsmouth after breaking his duck and netting in front of his home fans.

The Blues' link with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was given the cold shoulder by Juventus. This week, the Chelsea fans were glad to hear that keeper Petr Cech has been released from hospital.

The Blades will give their all to satisfy boss Neil Warnock. Against Chelsea's forceful outfit, however, they are likely to go blunt as they did at home to Birmingham in the League Cup earlier this week.

Portsmouth vs Reading. The southcoast side have now suffered three defeats in four league outings, while the Royals won only once in six league and cup matches.

Reading, however, faced sides that are being quoted to fill the top three positions - Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Steve Coppell, the boss at the Madejski Stadium, was relieved to hear that his players were cleared by the FA in the Chelsea 'keepers' incident.

Liverpool vs Aston Villa. While the Villans are still undefeated in the Premiership (three wins and six draws), Liverpool have bewildered their fans for the way they are playing, especially in the league.

While the rotation system had worked on many occasions before for Rafael Benitez, perhaps he now needs to settle on a side.

Last season, Liverpool were not as strong as they are now, regarding the depth in squad. Yet they marshaled on with seven or eight players figuring regularly week in, week out.

In that campaign the Reds did the double on Villa, with a home 3-1 win and a 2-0 away triumph.

Watford vs Tottenham. Was it a nibble or a bite? The argument on what had actually happened between Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe and West Ham's Javier Mascherano still goes on.

The Argentine was incensed because the referee had not dismissed Defoe and Spurs boss Martin Jol remarked that his player was shown the yellow card for what he described as a 'comical nibble'!

The Spurs will probably have striker Dimitar Berbatov back, but Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque are still doubtful. Spurs claimed a goal bonanza, a 5-0 hiding at MK Dons in the League Cup.

Man. City vs M'boro. Man. City's 4-0 hiding at Wigan has left the club with a big question mark hanging over their heads.

Due to a crippling injury list Stuart Pearce may bring 'bad boy' Ben Thatcher back after he completed an eight-match ban.

The long enduring fans still continue to back Pearce though, a man they desperately want to see doing well as manager.

Boro's Lee Cattermole signed a new four-year contract and Mark Viduka is out with a broken toe.

West Ham vs Blackburn. As the West Ham takeover saga continues to rumble these are indeed hard times for the Hammers. The last straw for them was defeat at Chesterfield in the League Cup this week.

Their move to the Olympic Stadium hangs on one of the two takeover bids being successful.

The Rovers are still kicking themselves for failing to score one of the two penalties awarded to them against Bolton.

Mark Hughes celebrated his 100th match in charge of Blackburn in the 0-2 loss to Chelsea in the League Cup on Wednesday.

Fulham vs Wigan. The Cottagers, apart from that home loss to Chelsea in the Premiership, are undefeated in eight league matches.

Defender Zat Knight stressed that Fulham can challenge for Europe after their latest outcomes.

Wigan are coming from their biggest win in the Premiership in the 4-0 triumph over Manchester City.

Newcastle vs Charlton. Managers, Glenn Roeder, of Newcastle, and Charlton's Iain Dowie, are marked men if the critics have their way.

Both stand in the line of fire in the managerial casualty list.

Dowie has stated that he has no intention of resigning after he had left Crystal Palace stranded by the end of the term to go to the Valley.

Roeder received a boost with the 3-0 win in the League Cup at home to Portsmouth.