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After a thunderous start to the FA Carling Premier League we’re already gearing up for some tasty mid-week action.

Arsenal let us, and themselves, down badly at the weekend, but credit where it’s due to Martin ‘Midas’ O’Neill. Villa set their stall out, frustrated the Gunners for most of the afternoon and then sneaked a goal. Though Arsenal deserved their equaliser, they won’t have been happy with their start to the season. They’ll have to do better in their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday against Dinamo Zagreb.

Charlton v Man Utd

Manchester United on the other hand couldn’t have been happier with their start in their newly expanded ‘Theatre of Dreams’. They leave Old Trafford for The Valley and a midweek clash with Charlton Athletic. A brace from Rooney, along with goals from Saha and Ronaldo show that they aren’t missing Ruud Van Nistelrooy, just yet anyway. With Alan Smith on his way back from injury, and playing his first reserve game tonight, it looks like they won’t struggle up front as much as we’d anticipated. It’s almost inconcievable that they’ll lose to Charlton if they can reproduce anything like their form of the opening weekend.

Verdict: Get them while their hot, Man Utd @ 1/2 (Bet365)

Blackburn v Everton

Andy Johnson showed his class by scoring a cracker on his Everton debut and linked up well with strike partner James Beattie. Their promising teamwork bodes well for the coming season, even if it did take a bizarre penalty decision to gift the Toffees all three points at the weekend. Blackburn, while they also have cause for complaint about the referee, were well and truly humbled at the weekend by a rejuvenated Portsmouth side. Having had both Neill and Todd sent off, they’re going to find it hard to regain some momentum on Wednesday.

Verdict: Everton to sneak this one @ 21/10 (Bet365)

Fulham v Bolton

Fulham won’t have much time to lick the wounds of their weekend drubbing and reorganise before the visit of Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers. Bolton, in comparison roared out of the game with main striker Kevin Davies opening his account for the season and through Ivan Campo’s 40-something yard screamer. With Bolton taking all three point in three of their last four encounters, we can’t see Fulham bucking the trend this time.

Verdict: Bolton to inflict further punishment @ 15/8 (Bet365)

Man City v Portsmouth

Man City never really got out of the blocks on Sunday against defending champions Chelsea and will have to do better at home to Portsmouth on Wednesday. With a reasonable record against Portsmouth you’d expect them to do the business, if it wasn’t for the tremendous form being shown by Pompy. While Pompy have a long way to travel they’re going to be eager to get out on the pitch and put on another show for the inspirational Harry Redknapp.

Verdict: Portsmouth have the desire to take all three points @ 21/10 (Bet365)

Middlesbrough v Chelsea

And finally, we take a look at Champion Chelsea’s midweek game against struggling Middlesbrough. It may sound weird to say Boro are struggling after only one game of the season but the nature of their defeat, giving up a two goal lead, and their truly abysmal pre-season form in which they could hardly find the net make them contenders for the drop this term unless Southgate can do something to pull them out of their current nosedive. Our bet says he won’t be able to do it by Wednesday.

Verdict: Chelsea by a country mile, good value @ 4/9 (Bet365)

One word of caution, all our mid week picks are on the away teams, so mix and match some doubles and trebles to avoid getting stung. Having said that, I’m going for a few quid on the fivefold accumulator and spreading the rest on trebles. Good Luck!