At last we can get back down to the business end of the season. Hopefully all the Arsenal players are fit and ready for the games coming thick and fast. Surely this weekend will be kind to us? Well here are Dan’s predictions for this weekend…
Fulham 1 -4 City
It’s squeaky bum time with no more international breaks to disrupt the title race. Pep probably couldn’t have picked a better away game then this to put all the pressure on Liverpool for Sunday. While form goes out of the window at this stage of the year, with so many sides battling for different things, Fulham have accepted relegation. Their last 10 minutes against Liverpool summed up their campaign. Decent in attack but undermined by a defence who have lost all confidence.
Brighton 1-1 Southampton
Brighton might feel safe if they win here, then they can focus on their trip to Wembley (if they win the FA Cup, boy will they look at their equaliser at Millwall as their moment of destiny). Southampton though have a manager who, the longer he has with the group on the training field, the fitter he makes them. Apparently for away games, he bans wifi to stop his squad playing computer games till 3.am. You could just remind them that they get thousands of pounds a week to kick a ball, so one night not on your PlayStation shouldn’t be too much of a sacrifice?
Burnley 1-0 Wolves
Just when I think Sean Dyche had found his mojo, his team lose four on the trot. Wolves though can be bullied in these type of fixtures. They have individuals who have flown around the world and are beating Watford away from being in a cup final. A case of Burnley simply needing this more?
Palace 1-0 Huddersfield
If the Terriers lose, they could be relegated by the next time they kick a ball. A nightmare game for Hodgson who would much rather be the underdog so he can be conservative. I see the home side wasting loads of chances but maybe Batshuyai making the difference
Leicester 2-1 Cherries
With the Old Firm Derby this weekend, I wonder if Rodgers still does not regret waiting till the summer to leave Scotland, he’s turned down another title for a run in where the Foxes can only finish mid table. Maybe he’s too busy having a bromance with Jamie Vardy to have noticed? Didn’t take long for the cringy moments to happen? 2 sides who ship goals, who love to attack. Gone for home win but wouldn’t be shocked if it ended 3-3.
Man Utd 2-2 Watford
The irony of Solskjaer being made permanent manager is his team were really poor at Wolves. In the fickle world of football, drop points this weekend and talk will start if Ed Woodward has made a mistake. I take nothing away from the job he has done but being interim manager of the biggest club in the world compared to full time, they are two different jobs entirely.
West Ham 2-0 Everton
Hardest game of weekend to predict. Two teams are like a bag of revels, so how do you know if either will show up? Their win over Chelsea summed up where Everton are at. Scared in the first half, then realising they couldn’t keep being so negative. So, there is every chance they will freeze at the London Stadium, which at least is beginning to garner a bit of an atmosphere.
Cardiff 0-2 Chelsea
The arrogance of the media. Hudson Odoi plays decent against average opposition and is valued at 100 million, despite never starting in the Premiership. The one positive for Chelsea concerning their impending transfer embargo, is it will force them to play the talented youngsters they have. I would rather though the press talk more about the disrespectful behaviour of Cardiff, who continue to try and distance themselves from the Salah tragedy. Chelsea are starting to lose even when they play well but Cardiff have started leaking goals at the worse time of the year.
Liverpool 2-2 Spurs
A game neither dare lose, with a loss mentally impacting the run in? It’s who will be braver. If Liverpool start well, they will be fine but the longer the visitors stay in the game, Anfield will go quiet.
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
While our away form is too poor for anyone to call our run in easy, I am confident when it comes to the Emirates.
Newcastle have shown a bit more flair recently with Perez having one of his hot streaks but Rafa’s not the type to treat any game like a free swing. He will show zero ambition playing straight into our hands.I think Emery is settled now on his best 11. Just a shame one he froze out for 8 months, the other he thought was not worth a new deal.
Dan Smith