Top Gunners get two shots
England football fans will have to distract themselves from disappointment at their failure to qualify for Euro 2008 with some of this week's top Premiership clashes.
Chelsea play host to fellow Londoners West Ham on Saturday (SS1, 12.30pm) - see Match of the Week.
Aston Villa v leaders Arsenal kicks off at 5.15pm on Saturday (Setanta1). The Gunners play again on Wednesday at St James' Park. That match is on SS2 at 7.30pm.
Manchester United continue their campaign to catch up Arsenal at the top of the table with a game against Fulham. The action at Old Trafford starts on Setanta1 at 7.00pm on Monday night.
For some it might be a bitter reminder of the days when England's qualification for major tournaments was a given, but the likes of Paul Gascoigne, skipper Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Chris Waddle will be keen to play a positive part in the PFA centenary match as an England XI take on a Rest of the World XI at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Recently sacked as the England team's assistant coach, Terry Venables will manage the England team, while Sven Goran Eriksson presides over a side tipped to include Gianfranco Zola, Mar-cel Desailly, Neville Southall and Ruud Gullit. Coverage on Sunday on SS1 from 1.00pm.
South Africa's rugby world champions play the Barbarians on Saturday. The Twickenham crowd will see it as a chance for revenge their win over England in the World Cup final. Jason Robinson is a doubt, still suffering from a shoulder injury. SS2 has coverage at 2.30pm.
UEFA Cup action tonight sees Spurs host Aalborg (ITV4, 7.00pm). Will Tottenham be able to repeat their victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv and carry off another three points?
They are also at home on Sunday to Birmingham City (SS1, 3.30pm), whose manager Steve Bruce recently decamped to Wigan.
Next week, Zenit St Petersburg visit Goodison Park to take on Everton, who will want to pick up some points on their penultimate group match. Watch that match on ITV4 on Wednesday at 7.30pm.
