Well no it's not yet but it isn't far off.  At the current rate of picking up points Manchester united will finish on 83 points and Chelsea and Manchester City can only reach 86 and 85 points respectively. As United have a better goal difference City and Chelsea realistically can only afford to drop 1 or 2 more points for the remainder of the season and I just don't see either doing that. I Believe Chelsea have a better chance of challenging than City do but its a big ask for both teams. Laurent Koscielny it seems thinks it is a 2 horse race and depending on how results go in the next few weeks the picture could be much clearer.

Bad news for Arsenal this week was Fabianski is now out for the remainder of the season and as this is just a couple of days after the end of the window this is very unfortunate timing. Arsenal are left primarily with the young Sczesny as their first choice keeper in the run in and if I were an Arsenal fan that would seriously worry me. The other option is the poor Manuel Almunia It may be a big gamble to give Sczesny a lot of games during the run in while still chasing the title but it is a great opportunity for him.

Gary Neville has retired this week, certainly a divisive figure and disliked by fans of many clubs. Regardless of feelings about him as a person there is no denying he is the best right back the premier league has seen. It's also starkly obvious how much England miss a right back of his quality when seemingly the very average Glen Johnson is the best we can offer.

It was interesting to read that Julio Cesar has ruled himself out of the running to be Manchester United's next keeper despite him not actually being linked with the role as far as I can see. Undoubtedly a quality keeper but I just find it strange he's ruling himself out of a role he himself has said United haven't spoken to him or Inter about.

Anyway here are this weekends predictions

Saturday 05th February
Stoke City  1 - 0  Sunderland
Aston Villa  3 - 1  Fulham
Everton  2 - 1  Blackpool
Man City  3 - 1  WBA
Newcastle  1 - 2  Arsenal
Tottenham  3 - 1  Bolton
Wigan  1 - 0  Blackburn
Wolves 1 - 4  Man Utd

Sunday 06th of February
West Ham  1 - 0  Birmingham
Chelsea  3 - 2  Liverpool

By Steve Jarvis aka Mystic Jarv