Arsenal will start 2008 as the leader of the Soccer Betting Premier League after winning at Everton 4-1 on Saturday. The victory, combined with Manchester United’s surprising loss at West Ham 2-1, means Arsenal will being the New Year two points in front of Manchester United. "I always feel if you reach New Year on top you have a massive chance," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "We still have a great chance but obviously it was disappointing to lose the way we did."
United was missing Wayne Rooney, who was ill, for the match against West Ham. Manchester is still the favorite to win the Premier League but Arsenal is definitely in the hunt. "It's a great team we've got and we just have to galvanize ourselves and get the reply you always look for after a bad performance. We need to go on a long run now because we are coming to the crucial part of the season. In many ways the season starts mushrooming. There are league games, Champions League football and FA Cup ties. It's a congested fixture list and you have to respond and play football properly." Ferguson said.
Manchester will start the New Year with a home game against Birmingham on Tuesday. It is expected that Rooney and Michael Carrick will be ready. "Wayne and Michael should be okay, they were both suffering from a virus. Michael was taken ill during the night, the doctor attended to him on Saturday morning and there was no way he could have taken part."
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The game against West Ham was disappointing for United since they started with a 1-0 lead on a goal by Cristiano Ronaldo. They easily could have led 2-0 but Ronaldo missed his penalty shot. The Hammers got their second straight win over United with goals from Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson. “The team struggled. West Ham were very competitive and aggressive, tackling everywhere, very motivated in what was pretty much their biggest game of the season. They wanted to beat us,” Ferguson said. "It's a disappointment because I always feel that if you go into the New Year top of the table then you have a great chance. But we still have a very good opportunity to go on in January."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is very pleased his team is two points clear of United to start the New Year and believes his players deserve to be where they are. "We have a great spirit in the dressing room as we have shown here," said Wenger. "We have shown that we can cope with all kinds of problems that come our way." Arsenal begins the New Year at home where they will be favored against West Ham.
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