It was great to have Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard with us on Super Sunday last weekend.
After the game at Swansea it will be the long haul down the M4 to London as we have a real pre-Christmas treat on the Monday Night Football: Arsenal v Chelsea.
This is a proper betting heat with Arsenal shading favouritism with Sky Bet at 11/8, Chelsea a 15/8 chance and the draw at 12/5.
It's been a tough week for Arsenal, with an energy-sapping defeat in Naples playing its part in the defeat at Manchester City.
The reverse against Napoli proved expensive as they drew Bayern Munich out of the hat in the Champions League draw and are now considered virtual no-hopers for that competition at 28/1.
Prolific
Many are expecting the wheels to come off their season but Arsene Wenger's have the perfect platform to answer their critics on Monday night and they have already proved this season that there is a genuine backbone and spirit to this Arsenal side.
A win for the Gunners on Monday night will guarantee them top spot on Christmas Day, which we know is an important omen as the champions from the last four seasons have all been top at Christmas.
These two sides have been brilliant in 2013 and have taken more Premier League points than any other teams in the calendar year. Arsenal have been, and remain, prolific at home.
They had to work hard to draw with Everton on Super Sunday last time out but have still only lost one of the last 17 home League games (W12 D4) since the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on January 13th.
Arsenal's issue remains with their results against the big guns.
That's typified by their recent record against Chelsea, who have won eight of the 11 meetings in all competitions in the last five years including each of the last three meetings (both 2-1 in the Premier League last season).
Chelsea's big problem this season has been killing off teams, not helped by the lack of goals from their strikers.
It's extraordinary to think that none of their 30 goals in 17 Premier League away games so far this year has been scored by a striker. Their strikers have scored only 12% of Chelsea's 68 League goals in 2013.
It will be fascinating to see what Jose Mourinho does on Monday night. Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and I will be live from 7pm on Sky Sports 1. I hope you can join us.
Cheltenham
The race of the season is shaping up to be the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. All the ingredients are being stirred nicely.
The New One is
Sky Bet's 3/1 favourite to win hurdling's blue riband but I'm not totally convinced by what he's achieved so far this season and whether he deserves to have shortened up so much in the betting.
The New One has beaten a disappointing Rock On Ruby at Kempton and then a reluctant Zarkandar on Saturday at Cheltenham. We'll learn more on Boxing Day in the Christmas Hurdle when he takes in My Tent Or Yours in what is a mouthwatering clash.
I've said plenty of times that I think My Tent Or Yours is virtually unbeatable around a flat track and expect him to have too much speed for The New One at Kempton but can easily see the form being reversed at Cheltenham in March. However, I'm not sure either of them will beat the Irish. Jezki remains my selection to win the Champion Hurdle.
This weekend there's some top action at Ascot, where Chatterbox should run a big race in the Ladbroke, and Haydock after which we are set for a Christmas racing feast in England and Ireland.
I think we're set for a grey Christmas with Al Ferof winning the King George. My best bet for Christmas is Thomas Edison in his chosen engagement over hurdles in Ireland.
Finally, I'd like to wish you all a very happy and profitable Christmas.
