WELL that is it for Arsenal's chances of winning the Premiership this season. Although it would have been very hard the Gunners were still in the running despite Chelsea's good lead at the top. But after that loss to Manchester United this week, Arsenal are out of the running. Now they will have to concentrate on trying to win the Champions League ? but I doubt they will do that.

Last year when Arsenal won the title, they played like a well-oiled machine. Not so this year ? particularly at the back. First of all their goalkeeper doesn't seem up to the task ? too many mistakes have been made in that position this year. And the defenders don't look very sure of themselves. Against United, Arsenal certainly missed the Brazilian Gilberto. Overall they are simply not clicking as they were last season and when they get behind they seem to let their heads hang.

I cannot see anyone but Chelsea winning the title. While they have been lucky all season with injuries they did lose Robben during the match on Wednesday night against Blackburn. Robben is a wonderful player and while Chelsea will not find someone as good as him to fill his place, they will have someone who can do the task.

Chelsea were in danger of dropping points on Wednesday night at Blackburn who were awarded a penalty with the score at 1-0 for Chelsea. But then Blackburn miss it! Teams cannot afford to waste points like that against Chelsea who do not concede many goals as it is. You have to take your chances when they are given to you and Blackburn did not do so ? and they paid for it.

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There is no doubt he is very gifted but Manchester United's Wayne Rooney really has to calm things down. Watching him against Arsenal this week, I thought he was very lucky not to be sent off during the first half. Rooney can do wonderful things on the pitch but he must watch that famous temper of his because it could be his downfall. We have been saying for quite a while now that he is just young but that is getting to be a bit of a tired excuse. I thought the referee was very lenient with him ? most others would have pulled out the red card.

In the next round of the FA Cup United have been drawn to face Everton at Goodison. Rooney left Everton in the summer to move to United and no doubt the fans there are still unhappy about it. He is going to have to keep his temper in check if he plays in that match or it will be an early bath for him.

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Sometimes I just do not understand Nicolas Anelka. He has played for Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Now he is moving again ? this time to the Turkish team Fenerbahce. That does not make any sense. All due respect to Fenerbahce, but Anelka is still only 25-years-old and he is a very good player with superb skills and I cannot understand why he would move to a club in Turkey. I could understand if he was going to a top Spanish or Italian club but Turkey? Over the years the total transfer fees for Anelka have been around $113 million. He has a reputation for being a moody player and it might catch up to him someday.

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I was happy to see my old mate Harry Redknapp win with Southampton against Portsmouth on Saturday in the FA Cup. Southampton are at the bottom of the tables and will be fighting relegation until the end of the season. Hopefully that FA win will keep their spirits up because it is going to be a dogfight to stay in the Premiership. Once you go down it is very difficult to get back up because then you have to start selling your best players. Just look at what has happened with my old club West Ham. They are not having an easy time of it.

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Manchester United have allowed their Cameroon midfielder Djemba-Djemba to move to Aston Villa. I think it will be a good move for the player who wasn't getting the playing time he wanted at United. Ferguson obviously saw something in the player but things didn't work out. That can happen. After all just look how the fortunes of former United striker Diego Forlan have changed since he joined Villarreal in Spain at the beginning of the season.

Forlan got himself another two goals last weekend and now has 13 for the year and has passed the Brazilian Ronaldo who has 11. The only other player ahead of Forlan is Barcelona's Eto with 16 goals. Sometimes a change is all you need to get kick started again.