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United and Arsenal back in action

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 30/12/2009
Football betting

Title rivals Manchester United and Arsenal are both back in action on Wednesday night as the busy festive period shows no signs of letting up.

United will be hoping to keep up the pressure on leaders Chelsea with a resounding win against Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford.

However, the Red Devils have a debilitating injury list and it is a one that could all but end their title challenge if it is to continue to hinder them into the new year.

Defenders Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown and Rafael all returned to face Hull City on Sunday and the 3-1 victory closed the gap on sportsbook title favourites Chelsea to just two points.

However, Rio Ferdinand, Jonny Evans, Gary Neville, John O'Shea, Nani, Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves and Federico Macheda will all definitely miss the visit of the Latics through injury.

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Four games in 11 days will certainly test United's resolve and it will be interesting to see if Ferguson's stricken unit can deal with the rigours in front of them.

One player who will be desperate to shine on Wednesday will be Luis Antonio Valencia following his £16million switch to the Red Devils from Wigan in the summer.

Elsewhere, Arsenal travel to the south coast as they look forward to a Premier League clash with Portsmouth.

With the Gunners chasing Chelsea and United at the top of the Premier League table, they must grab another three points against Avram Grant's relegation threatened Pompey.

Arsene Wenger will know his youthful side must show some respect to their battling visitors as any underestimation could prove fatal as they look to keep the pressure on the big two.

The Gunners are in fine form following their 3-0 setback against Chelsea at the end of November.

Their 3-0 victory over an in-form Aston Villa on Sunday to move within four points of leaders Chelsea certainly highlighted that.

Arsenal will be without Tomas Rosicky (groin), Kieran Gibbs (fracture metatarsal), Robin van Persie (ankle), Gael Clichy (back), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Johan Djourou (knee).

Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas will not play after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring problem while scoring his and his side's second goal against Villa.

The talismanic skipper had started the game on the bench with a question mark hanging over his fitness and Wenger's successful gamble partly backfired.

Portsmouth have turned in some positive performances since Grant was installed as manager after Paul Hart's dismissal.

Despite losing 2-1 at Chelsea on December 16, the side showed fighting qualities that had been lacking earlier in the season.

The fine 2-0 home success over Liverpool, with fantastic strikes from Nadir Belhadj and Frederic Piquionne, has given the side real hope that they can avoid the drop this term.

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