27.12. (Tue) 20:30 Norwich City - Tottenham

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NORWICH CITY Ruddy Martin, Barnett, Whitbread, Tierney Bennett, Hoolahan, Johnson, Pilkington Morison, Holt

TOTTENHAM FriedelWalker, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale Defoe, Adebayor

Norwich City welcome Tottenham to Carrow Road on Tuesday with the possibility of jumping up one place to eighth, but several first-team members will miss out. Ritchie De Laet, on loan from Manchester United, is doubtful for the match with a back injury while James Vaughan (knee), Elliott Ward (knee) are definitely ruled out and Kyle Naughton is ineligible as he cannot play against his parent club.
Harry Redknapp will also have to cope without a few first-teamers as Spurs hope to close the gap on United, who are currently seven points ahead in second.
Michael Dawson is out until the end of the month with an Achilles injury, while Aaron Lennon won’t be back due to a hamstring tear and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) is also still a week away from fitness.
Spurs also have a number of players doubtful as Ledley King (knee), Younes Kaboul (hamstring) and Jermain Defoe (hamstring) will have to wait for fitness tests to determine whether they are match-ready.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Norwich haven’t scored in any of their last four matches against Spurs.

• The last time Paul Lambert’s side beat Spurs was back in December 1993, in a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane.

• Norwich have scored four more headed goals than any other team in the Premier League this season with 11.

• Lambert’s team are one of only two sides yet to keep a clean sheet this term, with Blackburn Rovers being the other.

• Tottenham have won four of the last five meetings with the Canaries.

• Spurs’ last visit to Carrow Road ended in a 2-0 win for the side then managed by Martin Jol.

• Tottenham have lost just one match in their last 14.

• Spurs have only failed to win three of their last eight away matches.

• Norwich have only lost two matches at home so far this season.

Prediction

Matches involving Norwich have led to 58 goals this season and it would be a surprise if the visit of Spurs doesn’t yield more, with the London club averaging two a game this term.
Norwich’s last home match saw the Canaries put four past a then high-flying Newcastle United, but Spurs’ decent away record this season will give Redknapp’s team the upper hand as they travel to East Anglia.

Editor's Prediction

Norwich City 2-3 Tottenham

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27.12. (Tue) 16:00 Arsenal - Wolves

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL Szczesny Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen Arteta, Ramsey, Song Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho

WOLVES Hennessey Zubar, Johnson, Berra, Ward Hammill, Hunt, Henry, Milias, Jarvis Fletcher

Johan Djourou looks set to miss out on a return to the team following his injury against Manchester City with Arsene Wenger citing that he had “a little chance” of making the game, so Francis Coquelin could reprise his role as a stand-in at right-back. Wenger also confirmed that Kieran Gibbs would be out for a further month after undergoing surgery on his hernia injury, so Laurent Koscielny should continue his role at left-back.
The French boss has hinted that he may rest Robin van Persie over the festive period but it seems likely he will figure.
Wolves have three players who could possibly return from injury in Jody Craddock, David Edwards and Kevin Foley after they all played a part in a behind-closed-doors friendly. They will probably take a 4-5-1 formation as they did against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Robin van Persie has scored 34 Premier League goals in the calendar year of 2011, two goals off the record set by Alan Shearer.

• Arsenal have only lost one Premier League game at the Emirates this season, against Liverpool in their opening home match of the season.

• Wolves have won only four Premier League games this season, drawing three and losing 10.

• Wolves have lost six of their eight away games in the league this season.

• This game was due to take place on Boxing Day but was pushed back 24 hours because of a transport strike.

Prediction

Don’t expect the Gunners to be worried too much by Wolves’ attack, and with Van Persie set to play it’s difficult to look past a dominant home win for Arsenal.

Editor's Prediction

Arsenal 3-0 Wolves

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