Van der Vaart poised to make Milan clash

TOTTENHAM hope to have Rafael Van der Vaart back for Wednesday’s AC Milan clash — as boss Harry Redknapp sensationally tipped bitter rivals Arsenal as the new Premier League title favourites.

Redknapp, whose team were held to a 3-3 draw by Wolves following Steven Fletcher’s late equaliser, is confident star man Van der Vaart will join Gareth Bale in being fit for the Champions League tie after seeing the Welsh wizard make his return from a six-week absence with a back injury as a sub at Molineux.

The Spurs boss said: “I’m hoping Rafael will be fit and there’s every chance Bale will start.”

And Redknapp believes Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool yesterday has made second-placed Arsenal, who are three points adrift with a game in hand, the new favourites — despite them only drawing against Sunderland on Saturday — while refusing to rule Chelsea out either.

He added: “Chelsea could still win the championship. They’re capable of winning seven or eight on the spin. Arsenal for me could be favourites to win the championship.”

Redknapp admitted Alan Hutton was lucky to escape a red card for a shirt tug on Nenad Milijas which handed Wolves a penalty. “He was very lucky not to get sent off then,” he said.

And he hailed Jermain Defoe for his brilliant brace — the England man’s first league goals of the season.

He added: “There was lots of positives for me out of the game. Defoe could now go on a run now and start to score.’’

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy said: “I’m happy with a point. “Our reaction to their third was terrific, but we’ve had a goal disallowed and it was never a foul. Those things happen, but we got the equaliser. It looks like being a high number of points to stay up, but with that spirit and commitment I still think we’ll stay up.’’