MADCHESTER!

I know that there are some great fixtures today, notably Everton Vs Blackburn, Sunderland Vs Swansea, and Chelsea are in action against Norwich, but surely all the focus and excitement this weekend is going to be on the North London/Manchester title shattering games tomorrow.

It's going to be a classic 'Super Sunday', even if they both end up 0-0, which is unlikely to happen with Arsenal's "leakier than a bum after a night out on the curry and beer" defence, and Man City's unstoppable strike force. To be honest, the fact the forwards cost about £8gazillion you would expect them to bang in a few goals. My girlfriend claims that her Lois Vuitton bag is tougher, more beautiful and well made than her normal hand bags. The fact it cost a fortune, I totally agree with her, but I don't understand paying that much for something you just have on your arm when you go out and  keep your keys and tampons in! I feel the same about expensive strikers.

I don't necessarily agree with Arsene Wenger's philosophy of plucking a guy from the Ethiopian league, who has just come out of primary school and has no eyes but "potential" and cost three lima beans, but paying £20million as apposed to £60million makes more sense. Although, there are players such as Messi and Ronaldo that are probably worth the heavy fee as they can run a whole side consistently, every week.

Spurs have managed to forge a team that is playing the best football in the league at the moment and Harry redknapp hasn't spent a ridiculous amount of money. He's been sensible and, yes he's dodgier than the Mitchell brothers put together, but he's managed to get some real bargains in his side. To pick up a player of Adebayor's quality on a season long loan is a fantastic coup. To get last season's writer's player of the year for £5.5million in this day and age is quite something and to have Modric, Van der Vaart and Bale in your side (all be it two of them bought by Ramos) and not even paying £30million for the lot is pretty good business in anyone's book. The only real weakness I can see in the side is Assou-Ekotto. After his wonder goal the other week you can see he can succeed going forward, but defensively I think he can be left wanting far too many times. Aside from that, Harry is "Mr.Motivator" (obviously not the crazy lycra clad fitness freak of the mid 90s) and I think the way spurs are going, they can sneak a win and totally blow the title race wide open.

Manchester United are going through a bit of a weird spell at the moment. We aren't talking Harry Potter style weird, but something isn't quite right. It's a big period of transition for Sir Alex's side, with the Giggs' and Scholes' of this world finally dying out after what seems an age in the starting line up and youngsters like Smalling, Cleverly, Welbeck and Jones coming into the side. Don't get me wrong, these are all future star international players, but I just think that they lack the cool heads that a player gains from a few years battling it out for titles in big games. The thing with Ferguson is that he has been through these types of seasons before and always seems to come out the other side smelling of roses, and don't get me wrong, United are not far off the top of the league and you can never rule them out.

With Arsenal still blighted by injury and United fresh from beating Man City I can't see anything other than the win being taken by the northern side. The way the gunners played against Swansea was the worst I have seen them since Bruce Rioch was in charge back in '95. Swansea were fantastic though, and are most definitely recreating the respect that was forged for Blackpool last season. Let's hope for them that it doesn't end in the same way!

Dave's predictions: Arsenal      1 - 3       Man. Utd.
                               Man. City  1 - 2       Spurs