Arsenal vs Tottenham

Arsenal and Tottenham go head to head in the North London derby on Sunday afternoon and there is no doubt that the pressure is on, particular for the home side as 7/4 on Redknapp’s side looks too big with Paddy Power to pass up.

Arsene Wenger’s men go into this home clash with their local rivals on the back of a difficult week or so in other competitions. First, unsecured loans they were hammered by AC Milan in the Champions League, then they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Sunderland.

Their last Premier League game – which was actually a victory at Sunderland to move them into 4^th – certainly seems like a bad credit loans while ago now and there is no doubt that Wenger needs a positive result this weekend.

More so than ever before there has been talk about the Frenchman moving on as Arsenal’s long wait for a trophy looks set to continue for another season.

Arsenal v Tottenham: Paddy Power Free Bets

Referring specifically to their Premier League form, the Gunners have responded to a three game losing streak reasonably well with a draw at Bolton as well as victories over Blackburn and Sunderland.

As mentioned, this most recent victory has seen them climb to 4^th position and it has to be said that maintaining this Champions League place is now their priority for the rest of the campaign.

They will face a very good Tottenham side this weekend though and there is no doubt that some Arsenal fans will not be relishing the prospect of facing their rivals at such a difficult time for the club.

Harry Redknapp’s men are currently 10 points clear of Arsenal and this is a gap they would love to extend this weekend as they consolidate their position in the top three of the Premier League.

Spurs are in decent form too, going five games unbeaten across all competitions since the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City in January. They hammered Newcastle United 5-0 in their most recent league game too, so they travel to the Emirates in good spirits.

Looking at the team news for this fixture, Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor face late fitness tests for Spurs, while Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe should all be involved.

For the Gunners, Aaron Ramsey is their biggest fitness doubt after picking up a knock against Sunderland last weekend, while defenders Per Mertesacker and Santos are certain to miss out.

Whoever plays, the atmosphere will be electric as this famous rivalry comes to a head from 1.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Fifa game on PS Vita

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that it has delivered the first true HD console experience on a hand-held gaming device with the launch of EA SPORTS™FIFA Football on the PlayStation® Vita handheld entertainment system, available now in retail stores throughout North unsecured loans America and Europe. unsecured loans The first game ever developed for the PlayStation Vita by EA SPORTS features the award-winning FIFA console quality gameplay, graphics, game modes and authenticity.

“FIFA Football on PlayStation Vita represents a quantum leap forward for hand-held gaming, delivering the HD console quality bad credit loans experience in the palm of your hands,” said Vice President and Executive Producer Kaz Makita. “The level of quality that is now achievable is a very exciting landmark for the FIFA franchise and in gaming.”

Described by IGN as “a must-have launch title” and by Play Magazine as “one of Vita’s best games”, EA SPORTS FIFA Football on PlayStation Vita features the same physics-based, data driven technology that powers FIFA gameplay on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system across eight different game modes. The largest and most complete experience for handheld ever created by EA SPORTS includes authentic 11 versus 11, Be A Pro, Tournament Mode with over 50 real-world competitions, a full in-depth Career Mode, and head-to-head online.

In addition, FIFA Football features innovations that utilize front and back multi-touch screens, creating a more responsive, intelligent and unique gameplay experience. Touch Screen Shooting delivers pin-point accuracy and removes the element of “hit and hope” from shooting, Touch Screen Passing opens up the field of play for more creative, precision passing, and Touch Screen Free Kick Control enables players to swipe a finger to aim and curl the shot around the wall. The game also features over 30 officially licensed leagues and 500 officially licensed clubs in 11 v 11 matches in authentic stadiums from around the world.

UAE FA

Not in the running: Trapattoni is not one of the contenders to take up the UAE job.

Yousef Al Serkal, the chairman of the UAE Football Association interim committee, has dismissed reports he has approached veteran Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni about taking up the national job. unsecured loans

Trapattoni, 72, is the latest high-profile name to linked with the UAE job as the FA continue their search for a permanent successor to Srecko Katanec following his dismissal last September. bad credit loans

Emirati coach Abdullah Misfir is currently in charge of The Whites on an interim basis after Katanec was axed following back-to-back defeats to Kuwait and Lebanon which all but ended the UAE's chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

Al Serkal has been vocal about the FA's search for a long-term replacement in recent weeks and admitted in a recent interview that Argentine legend, Diego Maradona, currently in charge of Pro League side Al Wasl, was "one of the names" on their shortlist.

Trapattoni, though, is not one of them according to Al Serkal. “There’s no contact of any kind between us and Trapattoni. This is completely baseless,” he said.

Former Al Jazira boss Abel Braga and Dutch legend Marco Van Basten have also been mentioned as possible contenders although, Yusuf Abdullah, general secretary of the UAE FA, remained tight-lipped over those rumours last week. "We are aware of the rumours but cannot confirm any names at this time as the process is still ongoing," he told Sport360°

Dutchman Dick Advocaat, currently in charge of the Russia national team and who had a brief spell in charge of the UAE, is another who has been linked with the role. And "The Little General" certainly has his admirers, not least UAE talisman Ismail Matar who paid him a ringing endorsement recently.

"I was with Dick Advocaat for a short time, for me he is the best solution, but I don’t have the power to decide, it’s not my job. My job is to play football," said the skipper of Al Wahda at a Nike event last November.

But talk of UAE's alleged interest in Trapattoni is hardly surprising given the Italian's impressive CV in a management career spanning almost 40 years. 

Trapattoni has enjoyed enormous success with the likes of Juventus and Bayern Munich and holds the distinction of being one of only two coaches, alongside Austrian, Ernst Happel, to have won league titles, 10 in all, in four different countries (Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Austria).

The Italian, who also managed his country between 2000-2004, is currently the boss of the Republic of Ireland with whom he recently signed a two-year extension after guiding them to Euro 2012 qualification following a play-off win over Estonia.

six nations

Leigh Halfpenny kicked a 79th-minute penalty to give Wales a 23-21 win against Ireland in the opening round of matches in rugby’s Six Nations. unsecured loans

“It was end-to-end stuff and an exciting game and all credit to Ireland,” Halfpenny told the British Broadcasting Corp. “They came out and gave us a tough game. I’m really pleased to have been part of the game.”

Ireland’s Stephen Ferris had been yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle to give Halfpenny the opportunity to snatch the win in Dublin. Halfpenny had been unable to score from a difficult conversion chance two minutes earlier.

Wales, which beat Ireland in the quarterfinals of the World Cup last year, trailed 10-5 at halftime and had to play 10 minutes of the second half with 14 men after Bradley Davies was sent to the sin-bin.

Jonathan Davies got a try in each half, while George North crossed in the corner late on to bring the visitors within a point of Ireland. Halfpenny finished with eight points.

Rory Best and Tommy Bowe bad credit loans were the try scorers for Ireland, with Jonathan Sexton kicking 11 points. It was Ireland’s first loss at home to Wales since 2008.

Yesterday, defending champion England beat Scotland 13-6 and France defeated Italy 30-12. 

Super Bowl, breaks viewing records!

Irving, TX – History was made last night on FOX when Super Bowl XLV became the most-watched U.S. television program ever, and FOX became the first network ever to exceed 100 million viewers (100.9 million) for a night in prime time, according to fast-national ratings released today by Nielsen Media Research.  The game, the outcome of which was in doubt until the final seconds, saw the Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to capture the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl Championship. unsecured loans

FOX Sports’ broadcast of Super Bowl XLV averaged 111 million viewers and is the most-watched television program in U.S. history, obliterating the prior record of 106.5 set last year during Super Bowl XLIV by 4.5 million viewers and the 106.0 million for the series finale of M*A*S*H, which held the viewership record from 1983 to 2010.

This is the fourth consecutive Super Bowl to set a viewership record, and attracted 13.5 million more viewers than FOX’s last Super Bowl broadcast in 2008 (97.5 million) for the New York Giants upset of the undefeated New England Patriots.  No other major sporting event has ever hit a record high in four consecutive years. This also marks the sixth straight year that Super Bowl viewership has increased, and over that span average Super Bowl viewership has increased from 86.1 million in 2005 to 111.0 million, a gain of nearly 25 million viewers. bad credit loans

The game posted a 46.0/69 household rating/share tying Super Bowl XXX in 1996 (Dallas-Pittsburgh) as the highest-rated since Super Bowl XX in 1986 (48.3/70, Chicago vs. New England).  Only eight of the 45 Super Bowls played had a higher rating, and all were played in a nine-year span between 1978 and 1986.

Super Bowl XLV also set a new mark for total viewership of any program in U.S. history (persons age 2+ watching all or part of the game) with 162.9 million people watching, 9.5 more than the record set a year ago (153.4 million).

Half-hour ratings and average viewership (in millions) for the game are as follows: 41.4/97.2 (6:34-7:00 PM ET); 44.3/106.8 (7:00-7:30); 45.9/111.7 (7:30-8:00); 44.7/110.2 (8:00-8:30); 46.8/114.9 (8:30-9:00); 48.4/116.8 (9:00-9:30); 49.2/117.2 (9:30-10:00); 47.1/111.5 (10:00-10:13 PM ET).

The Super Bowl XLV PRE-GAME SHOW averaged an 11.5/23 from 2:00 PM ET to kickoff at 6:34 PM ET, a +16% gain over last year's 9.9/19, with 22.2 million viewers, and is the highest-rated, most-watched Super Bowl pre-game show in nine years (12.9, 23.3 million on FOX).  FOX's SUPER BOWL XLV POST-GAME SHOW earned a 28.4/46 (66.0 mill.), down -14% compared to a year ago (33.0/51) on CBS, but up +11% over 2009's 25.7/42 on NBC.

Following the post-game, a special airing of Glee averaged a series-best 13.6/25 (26.8 mill.) among all Households and 11.1 among Adults 18-49, and is the highest-rated scripted program on television in three years among Adults 18-49.

The airing of Super Bowl XLV goes down as FOX's most-watched night of prime time ever, as well as FOX's highest-rated night ever among Adults 18-49. It's also the most-watched night on any network in at least 20 years, and the highest-rated night on any network among Adults 18-49 in 15 years (dating to the night of Super Bowl XXX on NBC). The record-smashing performance of the Super Bowl vaults FOX into first place in the Adults 18-49 ratings race for the first time this season.  FOX projects to average a 3.4/9 for the season among Adults 18-49 through last night's game, surpassing second-best CBS (3.0).

The SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW, featuring the Black Eyed Peas posted a 44.7/68 from 8:00 PM ET-8:30 PM ET, only -3% lower than the entire game.  That's a slightly better audience retention than was delivered by recent halftimes featuring The Who in 2010 (-4%), Bruce Springsteen in 2009 (-5%) and Tom Petty in 2008 (-6%).  It is the highest-rated half-time since Michael Jackson performed in 1993 (45.5).

Ratings in the participating markets, the host city, and other major markets were the highest in many years. Both Pittsburgh (59.7/87) and Milwaukee (59.7/85) tied for the second-highest single-market rating in Super Bowl history.  The rating trails only Chicago's 63.0 rating in Super Bowl XX.  Dallas, the host city, posted a 53.7/80, third-highest rating ever for a Super Bowl host city whose local team was not participating. Only Jacksonville's 58.9 (‘05) and San Diego's 53.9 (’03) were higher for a host city.   Dallas contributed over 700,000 more homes than Miami did a year ago.  New York, the nation’s no. 1 TV market, delivered a 42.6/63, the best rating in Gotham for a non-Giants Super Bowl in 28 years.  Los Angeles notched a 40.1/71, its best in 13 years for a non-Rams or Raiders Super Bowl.  Chicago posted a 51.4/73, which beat the rating for the Bears in Super Bowl XLI (50.2) and is the markets best-ever for a non-Bears Super Bowl.

SB XLV Ties '87 with Highest Overnight Rating Ever; +3% Over 2010

SUPER BOWL XLV earned a 47.9/71 metered market rating/share last night on FOX, tying it with Super Bowl XXI in 1987 as the highest-rated ever in the metered markets.  FOX's 47.9/71 is +3% better than the 46.4/68 posted a year ago.  National ratings and audience figures are expected this afternoon. The 71 share matches the highest for a Super Bowl since 1982, an significantly high share in the current era of fragmented television viewing.

FOX's SUPER BOWL XLV PRE-GAME SHOW averaged a 12.2/24, a +13% gain over last year's 10.8/21 and the best overnight rating for a Super Bowl pre-game show in eight years. As is typical for a Super Bowl pre-game, ratings rose dramatically throughout the day. The show opened at a 4.5/10 from 2:00-2:30, then grew to a 6.4/13 by 3:00, a 8.5/17 at 4:00, a 13.9/26 at 5:00 and finally a 33.7/56 from 6:00-6:30pm.

Ratings in the participating markets, the host city, and other major markets were the highest in many years. The ratings battle between Pittsburgh and Milwaukee was a push, as both cities delivered a 59.7 overnight rating. The two markets tied for the second-highest rating in a single market in Super Bowl history, trailing only Chicago's 63.0 rating in Super Bowl XX.  Host city Dallas posted a 53.7/80, the second-highest rating ever for a host city whose own team was not playing in the game.  Only Jacksonville's 58.9/77 rating in 2005 is higher for a host city, but Dallas contributed over 700,000 more homes to last night's rating than Miami did a year ago. Two other host cities have rated higher than Dallas, but in both cases those cities had a local team playing in the game (San Francisco in 1985, Los Angeles in 1980; both posted a 55.0 rating). New York delivered a 42.6/63 last night, the best rating in New York for a non-Giants Super Bowl in 28 years. Los Angeles notched a 40.1/71, their best in 13 years for a non-Rams or Raiders Super Bowl. Chicago posted a 51.4/73, which actually beat the rating for the Bears in Super Bowl XLI (50.2) and is the best ever in the market for a non-Bears Super Bowl.