Arsenal struck with two late goals to close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to just three points after a 3-1 success at Stoke, although the win came at a cost as Aaron Ramsey suffered a horrific leg injury.

The Gunners (now 11/4 to win the title) had to come from behind after Danny Pugh’s eighth-minute header from Rory Delap’s throw in, but Nicklas Bendtner levelled matters before half-time.

Midway through the second period, Ramsay suffered his injury for which Ryan Shawcross was sent off although the visitors left it late before making the extra man count.

Cesc Fabregas converted a last minute penalty after Bendtner’s through-ball struck Pugh’s arm before Thomas Vermaelen scored four minutes into stoppage time to seal the victory.

The result means there is a genuine three-horse title race following nine-man Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat at home to Manchester City earlier in the day, with the gap now down to three points.

Roberto Manccini’s men came-from-behind to inflict the league leaders’ first home defeat of the season, with Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy scoring twice for the Citizens and Frank Lampard bagging two for the Blues.

Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack saw red for the home side who failed to extend their advantage over Manchester United - in action in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

City (8/11 to win the Premier League W/O Big 4) meanwhile have of course strengthened their grip on a top-four place, pulling three points clear of Tottenham (3/1) and four ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa (3/1), although Martin O’Neill’s men do have a game in hand.

Wayne Bridge will have no problem facing Chelsea and John Terry when Manchester City travel to take on the Premier League leaders on Saturday, according to team-mate Shay Given (Chelsea 4/9 draw 11/4 Man City 11/2 - match betting).

City full-back Bridge announced on Thursday he did not wish to be considered for England’s World Cup squad because he felt his presence would be “untenable and potentially divisive” in the wake of allegations about former Stamford Bridge team-mate Terry and his ex-partner Vanessa Perroncel.

Terry, who who stripped of the captaincy by Fabio Capello, will come face-to-face with Bridge for the first time on Saturday since his private life hit the front pages.

Given says Bridge (40/1 First and Last Goalscorer) will handle the situation and is in no doubt his focus will be on the job of returning City to winning ways following their FA Cup exit.

“He’s fine and he’s looking forward to the game and hopefully getting a good result,” said Given.

“It’s a massive game for everyone at the club, including Wayne. Shaun Wright-Phillips is going back to his old club as well and they are both looking forward to it.”

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Manchester City’s bid to qualify for the Champions League (20/21 Premier League Without Big Four) has taken a blow after star striker Emmanuel Adebayor was hit with a four-game ban for being sent off in the FA Cup defeat at Stoke on Wednesday night.

The Togo star was dismissed on 83 minutes after catching Potters centre-half Ryan Shawcross which has now ruled the former Arsenal ace out of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea (City 11/2 to win) as well as further Premier League games against Sunderland (a), Fulham (a) and Wigan (h).

Adebayor was suspended for four games rather than the usual three as it is the second time he has been found guilty of violent conduct this season following an infamous bust-up with former Gunners team-mate Robin van Persie.

City boss Roberto Mancini now has problems up front after Carlos Tevez’s recent absence because of personal problems plus the alleged clash with fiery Wales international Craig Bellamy.

Tevez has now returned from Argentina but it remains to be seen how fit the Argentina star is for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off at Stamford Bridge where all eyes will be on Wayne Bridge as he comes up against John Terry.

The Blues (4/9 to win) will be without first-choice keeper Petr Cech because of a calf problem while Patrick Vieira completes a three-game ban for the visitors.

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Wayne Bridge has announced that he feels his position with England (11/2 with totesport to win the trophy in South Africa) is “untenable” and says he will not make himself available for this summer’s World Cup.

The Manchester City defender has had to deal with intense media scrutiny about an alleged relationship between John Terry and Bridge’s former partner and the mother of his child, Vanessa Perroncel.

Even though Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello, Bridge has nowtold the England management that he feels he won’t be able to play again for his country.

The former Chelsea (4/9 to beat Bridge’s Man City on Saturday) star said in a statement: “It has always been an honour to play for England. However, after careful thought, I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive.

“Sadly, for the sake of the team and what would be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection.”

Bridge’s decision leaves Fabio Capello with a major headache at left-back ahead of this summer’s tournament in South Africa, with first-choice Ashley Cole in a race against time to prove his fitness after suffering a broken ankle.

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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says his side must match Stoke’s physical power and win the set-piece battles if they are to progress through their FA Cup fifth round replay at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday (Stoke 15/8, Man City 11/8, draw 12/5 after 90 minutes).

Man City take on the Potters for the third time in 11 days hoping to improve on the previous two 1-1 draws as they look to secure a Cup quarter-final berth.

Mancini says he has now worked out how to combat Stoke’s direct approach but is again expecting a tough clash against Tony Pulis’ side (Stoke evens to qualify, Man City 8/11).

“I understand why it is difficult to play Stoke,” Mancini said ahead of the game.

“The pitch is small and Stoke have the tactic of many crosses, many long balls and many throw-ins.

“For the opponent it is difficult, but if we want to play in the next (round) we must win. We must play like Stoke and fight for every ball.”

The Italian added: “We must prepare very well on set pieces because Stoke on set pieces are very dangerous. We must try to play football if possible, but if it is not possible, then we must try to prepare for the ball being in the air, to jump and fight for every ball.”

The visitors will again be without Carlos Tevez, who is still back in Argentina, while Adam Johnson (cup-tied) and Patrick Vieira (suspended) are also unavailable.

Mancini is expected to make several changes from the side that were held 0-0 by Liverpool on Sunday although Martin Petrov, Kolo Toure and Roque Santa Cruz remain doubtful.

Stoke (33/1 to win the FA Cup) are without suspended duo Andy Wilkinson and Abdoulaye Faye but Matty Etherington is in contention despite a recent knee problem.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has denied he has had a big fall-out with Craig Bellamy and insists the striker could play against former club Liverpool on Sunday (City 11/8, Liverpool 8/5 the draw 9/4 on totesport’s weekend coupon).

Newspaper reports on Friday suggested the Wales international, who has been out injured recently with a knee injury, was involved in a heated row with the City coach after he reportedly refused to train with a member of Mancini’s Italian staff

The coach then apparently told the former West Ham ace to leave the training ground and not return for three months.

However, Mancini, speaking at his weekly press conference, has denied the reports and claims Bellamy is in his thoughts to face Liverpool in what is being billed as a top-four decider at Eastlands on Sunday.

The City boss said: “Today Craig is here, working with the physio. It was the same yesterday.

“These things (an argument) can happen in a job. I don’t have problems with Craig. I spoke with him in the office and read that I shouted at him. But I didn’t. We just spoke face-to-face.

“He is having treatment at the training ground and if the knee is okay, he will be available for Sunday.”

City are currently a point clear of Liverpool with a game in hand as the race for fourth intensifies.

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Rafael Benitez has revealed vice captain Jamie Carragher is likely to miss Liverpool’s Europa League tie against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday (Liverpool 1/7 Unirea Urziceni 4/1 - To Qualify).

The experienced defender picked up an adductor injury in the 1-0 Premier League defeat by Arsenal on Wednesday but is expected to return next Sunday when the Reds take on fellow top-four hopefuls Manchester City (Man City 4/7 Premier League - Without Big 4).

Benitez told the official club website: “I am not sure if he will be available for Thursday against Unirea, but maybe he will have a chance against City.”

Sotirios Kyrgiakos is suspended for the next two Premier League games and Glen Johnson remains on the treatment table, meaning Benitez could be facing a defensive crisis.

The Spaniard has also said he does not expect leading goalscorer Fernando Torres to return from a knee injury against Roberto Mancini’s men next Sunday.

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Roberto Mancini has said his Manchester City players must learn to get nasty if they want to realise their ambition of securing Champions League football for next season (Man City 8/11 Premier League without Big 4).

The Italian was unimpressed by the manner in which his top-four hopefuls were bullied by relegation-threatened Hull in a 2-1 defeat at the KC Stadium on Saturday and has demanded a marked improvement for the visit of north-west rivals Bolton (Man City 4/11 draw 16/5 Bolton 6/1 Premier League match betting) on Tuesday.

Jozy Altidore opened the scoring in the 31st minute with his first Premier League goal and veteran midfielder George Boateng added a stunning volley to give the Tigers a first win since November on a day to forget for City in which Wayne Bridge was subjected by boos by the home crowd and Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson made their debuts off the bench.

Emmanuel Adebayor halved the deficit with a consolation goal but Mancini was left with plenty to think about on a weekend when Liverpool grabbed fourth spot.

He said: “If we want to make the top four, we must win away and we must fight. We must be aggressive away, not like the first half.”

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Spurs boss Harry Redknapp insists Arsenal’s stranglehold on third place in the Premier League is by no means guaranteed this season.

Chelsea and Manchester United are widely expected to challenge for the title with the Gunners off the pace in third, but Redknapp says it is by no means a foregone conclusion.

It could be a pivotal weekend in the Premier League with Liverpool entertaining Everton in the 213th Merseyside derby, Arsenal travelling to Chelsea and Aston Villa (7/2 Premier League Winners Without Big Four) making the trip to Tottenham (3/1) on Saturday evening.

And Redknapp reasoned: “It is going to be tight.

“If we would have beaten Birmingham last week when leading 1-0, and we should have had the game over, then we are suddenly not so far away from Arsenal.

“Someone could get third spot. Manchester City could. We could. Liverpool could. Anyone is capable with a run. Arsenal are not 100% sure to be there if they get beaten by Chelsea and other teams pick up good results.

“Arsenal are favourites but it is not impossible for anyone to catch them, there could be a five or six-point turnaround. We thought that Chelsea were running away with it, but now look at it. Wide open again.”

Jamie O’Hara says he is up for a relegation battle with Portsmouth (2/9 to go down in the relegation market) after re-joining the club on loan for the rest of the season.

The midfielder spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Fratton Park, making a big impression down on the south coast, and has now returned from Tottenham (11/4 to be league winners without the big four) to finish the job of helping Pompey stay up.

After another traumatic week for the financial stricken club, which has seen their players not paid again and the sale of Younes Kaboul go through, Avram Grant takes his side to Eastlands on Sunday to face Manchester City (8/11 to beat Pompey with a minus one handicap).

City are likely to be desperate to get back to winning ways after being knocked out of the Carling Cup in mid week by bitter rivals Manchester United and will see the visit of Portsmouth as a perfect opportunity to pick up a much needed three points.

Rock bottom Portsmouth are 11/1 to get a win at Eastlands this weekend with Grant likely to struggle to fill his bench with players thin on the ground at Fratton Park.

Despite their current dilemmas O’Hara believes Pompey are good enough to avoid relegation and says no matter what happens he will battle on until the bitter end.

“I would much rather come here, have a scrap and if we go down, at least I can hold my head up high and say I’ve done my bit for the club,” said O’Hara when asked why he had re-joined Pompey.

“But we’ve got a good squad and we’ve got to believe that we can get out of trouble.”

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