Dan’s EPL Predictions – Can Arsenal handle the pressure at Wolves?

A Win at Wolves on Saturday guarantees club football breaks up for the World Cup with Arsenal top of the Premier League.

If anyone said we would be top of the table on Boxing Day we would have bit your hand off.

I still listen to some of my fellow Gooners and think they are getting carried away. I heard statements from my peers such as top 4 is a certainty and that we are above the League cup .

To quote Mikel Arteta, ‘Let’s be humble.’

Remember the grief we got for over celebrating our 2-1 win over Fulham thanks to a late goal? I didn’t hear the likes of Richard Key’s critisise Man City for the exact same thing.

In all seriousness Pep Guardiola recongnised it was one of those moments you look back on and say that was crucial in the title race.

Playing so long with 10 men and still getting three points is the stuff of Champions.

Everyone is debating how the World Cup will impact certain club’s momentum. The fact that Haaland gets a month now to rest is another reason why I see City winning the League by a wide margin.

Both will field different teams to the ones who met in the Carabo Cup.

Gary ONeil originally made the Cherries hard to score against.

In their last two Prem fixtures though they were more positive and ended up throwing away 2 goal margins both times. So he needs to find the balance.

I just think the home side are due a bit of luck. Will go above Everton with a win. Now with new owners I hope next time we see Bournemouth they have a permanent manager in place .

Liverpool needs to get back to winning these types of fixtures.

They have beaten Man City and Spurs this season yet lost at home to Leeds and at Forrest, they can’t afford to drop anymore silly points.

A good time to play the Saints?

Nathan Jone’s first game as Southampton boss but this is a free swing.

His job starts proper when from next week. He will have till Boxing Day to implement his ethos on the training pitch.

N Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace 

Too early to say a must-win, but home fixtures back-to-back with Brighton and Palace was a golden chance to get maximum points.

Admittedly they were let down by VAR last weekend. On another day Henderson could have been sent off for how he hounded the referee.

While a new group of players are still trying to find their identity, everyone at Palace knows their roles.

They will hit the home side on the break and given the amounts of shots on goal Forest concede, I can’t see Palace not scoring.

Spurs 3-1 Leeds 

I think going out of the Carabao Cup is a huge blow to Spurs.

The whole point of putting up with Conte’s style of play is he will win you silverware. The League Cup was his most likely route.

England fans don’t want to hear their captain is tired on the eve of a World Cup.

I also think when managers start complaining about fatigue, it puts excuses in players minds.

Leeds tactics can be naive at times, and I can’t see them keeping a clean sheet on Saturday.

West Ham 1-2 Leicester 

Leicester have timed their form to perfection, highlighted by Maddison’s Three Lions call up.

Harry Kane is the only English player involved in more goals this season.

The visitors are probably more confident than the home side at the moment.

Won’t take a lot for the home fans to grow restless, which will play into the visitor’s hands.

Newcastle 3-1 Chelsea 

When is the last time the Toon were so overwhelmingly favourites to beat Chelsea?

Outside of Haaland, Almiron might be my player of the season so far.

Would Potter be under pressure if they were beaten here?

You never know with Chelsea …

Wolves 1-1 Arsenal 

With their new manager due to start on Monday, Wolves can treat this like a free swing. I’m relieved they have finally hired someone, their fans might get behind the team, realising they might need help.

Lopetugui has timed his arrival perfectly, getting a whole month to implement his ideas on the training pitch with players not going to Qatar.

I keep waiting for old habits to catch up with the Gunners. This is the type of fixture over the years we would be guilty of not having the right attitude in.

There were signs of that at Leeds and Saints and it could happen again here.

Brighton 2-2 Villa 

Villa’s best performance of the season came in Emery’s first game.

Players have already spoken of how he’s improved the tactics, being less direct and wanting a more possession-based approach.

Never thought I would call this fixture an entertaining one to look forward too.

Fulham 2-1 Man United 

Final game before the World Cup.

No longer a shock if on their travels United don’t show up.

I think it’s a reflection of where United are at, not consistent and never sure which version will show up.

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Hey peeps, next week will be doing the draw for the Just Arsenal World Cup.

If you finished in the last 32 last season, please confirm your participation

Will be chasing people up…..

Dan

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