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Spurs 11-10 to finish above rivals Arsenal

THE heat is on for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and after watching north London rivals Tottenham edge past Swansea 1-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday the Frenchman knows Monday night’s trip to Reading is entering must-win territory.

The Gunners have been hammered from all angles following last week’s Capital One Cup horror show at Bradford and only a win against the Royals could go any way to easing the pressure on the Arsenal boss.

Arsenal are 7-10 for a Madejski victory and 11-10 with Hills to seal a top-four finish. Spurs are the same price with the firm despite sitting four places ahead of the Gunners in fourth.

But a victory for Arsenal would close the gap to just two points and Hills go 4-6 that the Emirates outfit leapfrog their North London rivals and finish above them, while it’s an 11-10 shot that Spurs secure league superiority.

Wenger’s position is being constantly questioned but Hills think he is in a stronger position than Spurs gaffer Andre Villas-Boas, who is 8-11 to have left his club before Wenger despite being in the loftier position and having a side who are looking far more impressive. Wenger is evens to depart before the Portuguese.

Tottenham had to be patient to claim their win over Swansea
and got over the line thanks to defender Jan Vertonghen’s 75th-minute winner.

Spurs were rarely troubled by a disappointing Swans side but failed to make their dominance count. AVB had been forced to reshuffle his pack after Gareth Bale had been ruled out with a hamstring injury, choosing to pair in-form striker Jermain Defoe with Emmanuel Adebayor in a 4-4-2 formation but neither could force a breakthrough despite several decent opportunities.

West Brom will be delighted to have snapped a losing streak of three games with a 0-0 draw at home to West Ham, but they will be disappointed not to have taken all three points as they had the better chances in an uninspiring game at the Hawthorns.

James Morrison hit the woodwork twice for the visitors, who remain sixth, while one point keeps West Ham 11th even tough they are level on points with Swansea.

Chelsea’s bid to become World Club champions ended in failure after they lost 1-0 to Brazilian outfit Corinthians in Japan.

Paolo Guerrero nabbed the winner over the Blues who had Gary Cahill sent off in the closing stages.

The Blues are in action again on Wednesday in the Capital One Cup, when tackling Leeds, before Premier League clashes over Christmas with Aston Villa and Norwich.

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